Universal Preschool News

In this section, you'll find editorials, legislation, public policy and trends
on issues relating to preschool, pre-kindergarten, childcare and the push toward
universal preschool education. Particularly of note are articles concerning the
states claim of a compelling interest in compulsory preschool education. Visit
often for the latest preschool news.

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Psychology: Homeschooling offers viable option for manyKendall's mom began to suspect that her daughter might have difficulties with the traditional school setting when she saw how overwhelmed she felt by her preschool environment.It was clear that Kendall was an introvert who was often content to sit and read or play by herself for much of the day. She found the transition from her quiet home with just her mom, dad and younger sister into a classroom filled with 19 other active 4-year-olds to be too stressful. While her mom hoped that interaction with other kids in the class would help to improve Kendall's social skills, it became more evident that sensory overload and general anxiety were preventing her from succeeding. Her mom was already wondering if preschool would help Kendall academically because she had shown a strong aptitude for reading and was fluent at a first-grade level. So when the time came to enroll Kendall in all-day kindergarten, her mom thought about different options and decided to try homeschooling instead. Rather than risk further stress to her daughter and the possibility of her regressing academically, she felt that homeschooling offered the best choice for her individual needs.by Scott SmithFebruary 27, 2013[More Results from capitalgazette.com]

When teaching restrains discovery -- Not Exactly Rocket ScienceOne camp believes that children learn mostly through teaching and direct instruction. The other says that children learn mostly by exploring and figuring things out for themselves.To them, formal instruction is too passive, and makes for children that receive knowledge without engaging with it. On the other hand, people who favour more direct teaching argue that children need more guidance. Leaving them to explore on their own, through so-called "discovery learning", is inefficient and ineffective. These are, of course, extreme positions and the debate is more subtle. Both approaches have their merits and good teachers face the challenge of finding a happy medium.January 18, 2011[More Results from Discover Magazine]

The Getting-Into-Preschool PuzzleCan an admissions director really evaluate a 2-year-old? It's March, which means it's time for a spate of stories about the high comedy of preschool admissions.In certain cities-or rather, in certain well-off circles in a few cities-getting a 2- or 3-year-old into a coveted school is an enormous preoccupation. The preschool wars have adopted the weapons and lingo of the college wars: consultants, essays, safety schools, and early decision($).by Emily BazelonMarch 15, 2007[More Results from Slate Magazine]

Unruly tots torment preschoolsInexperienced teachers' difficulties with unruly students prompt state-financed preschools to expel about 5,000 students a year, a rate more than three times higher than that of most K-12 public schools.The findings, released Monday, put the first solid numbers on what observers say is a worsening behavior problem among very young students. The findings also suggest that while the national debate over pre-kindergarten focuses on how to get more low-income kids into the programs, "there appears to be a back door through which some children - the ones who stand the most to gain from these programs - are sometimes pushed," says Walter Gilliam of Yale's Child Study Center and the author of the report. "These 3- and 4-year olds are barely out of diapers." by Greg ToppoMay 19, 2005[More Results from AZ Central (AZ)]

Academic jump-start: Classes for kids 2 to 5Ritij Sarvaiya sits at a low table facing his teacher, Anita Hattangady. She shows him pictures and points to the accompanying words.
Ritij, by the way, is 3 years old.
He is also one of the first children enrolled in Pittsburgh's first Junior Kumon, a supplemental academic program designed specifically for preschoolers as young as 2, although 4 or 5 is the usual age.

The goal of the program, which is controversial in some circles for its methods and its unique academic focus on the pre-K market, is to prepare its youngest clients for kindergarten, in turn positioning them to do advanced work throughout their academic careers.by Sally KalsonMarch 13, 2005[More Results from Post-Gazette]

The False Promise of Universal Pre-schoolUniversal, free pre-school for all four-year-olds. Sounds great, especially if you're a working parent shelling out thousands of dollars a year for private pre-school and child care. Let the state pay for it!But most middle-class children don't need pre-school to reach their full potential. Poor children need a lot more -- high-quality, high-cost, full-day child care starting well before the age of four. by Joanne JacobsApril 15, 2004[More Results from TCS: Tech Central Station]